The Star Movie 2017
I was browsing through the October issue of CBA Christian Market online magazine and saw this cute animated movie announcement for The Star: The Story of the First Christmas. I was about to promote it on my website, but then I looked at the above trailer and now feel very mixed about it: think Shrek landed in Biblical times and you get what I’m talking about.
While I know other Biblical events have been portrayed in a lighter way (Prince of Egypt), the birth of our Savior should be treated with greater reverence than that. Silly camels, birds shaking their booties, Mary offering to give the donkey a belly rub, etc. feel out of place to me.
Maybe I’m taking this too seriously. If this portrayal of the first Christmas brings more people into the Church, who am I too complain? It’s just that a Christian’s journey is a big commitment. It’s a conscious choice. It’s not a joke. While there is much joy, faith doesn’t take away your hardships. It doesn’t always even make them easier to handle–it should if you’re able to have 100% faith, but that’s not always the case. Faith is a journey of growth. It’s slowly learning to give up control of your life to God and knowing that He will bring you through your trials just as much as He brings you blessings. If we draw people in with this half way approach, will they have the strength to stick with it when the times are tough?
Is it wise to trivialize faith? Is it fair to trivialize it? And again, am I’m making too big a deal out of this? Would love to hear your thoughts.
Psalm 96:4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise
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I agree with you, Cheryl. Turing the Christmas story into an animated comedy just doesn’t feel right to me. It’s not that it can’t be done. Charles Shultz (who was a Christian) beautifully wove in the Christmas story in his animated cartoon, A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was charming and adorable and truthful, without being corny or disrespectful. I have very mixed feelings about this new movie. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.
Crystal
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Crystal. A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favorite movies of the Christmas season.
I also agree with you, Cheryl (and Crystal, too).
There’s a big difference between making a story age-appropriate for little children and demeaning the message for the sake of laughs. As Crystal pointed out, humor can come alongside the account without being disrespectful. After all, it’s not as if God doesn’t have a sense of humor…He created us, didn’t He? 🙂
LOL! You’re so right, Ava. Creation certainly comes with all kinds of adventures. I might decide to go see it to simply get the whole picture, but I doubt my opinion will change.
Cheryl, I agree with you that, far too often today, very serious matters are trivialized. I believe this is spiritually harmful. While I enjoy humor, I think that misplaced humor, especially in children’s books, conveys the wrong message.
Thank you for your relevant post!
Blessings,
MaryAnn
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MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFA
Author & Writing Coach
http://www.maryanndiorio.com
So true, MaryAnn. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
You are so right. Some things should never be trivialized, and the birth of Christ is one of them. Thank you for raising this issue.
Thanks, Janice. I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks this way.
Completely agree with you, Cheryl (and also with the comments by Crystal, Ava, MaryAnn and Janice). It seems that the beauty and wonder of redeeming love and grace are going to be completely lost in this film. 🙁
Thanks, Wendy. I totally agree. There is so much to the Christmas story that this doesn’t seem like it will even scratch the surface.